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WWII Relics Cleanup drive at Takoronga Point

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) commemorated World Environment Day through a clean-up drive at the World War ll relics at Takoronga point in Betio on Saturday 06th June 2020.

The war relics include 2x 8inch vickers anti-ship coastal guns and bunker installed by the Japanese during its occupation of Betio in World War ll.

As custodian of all World War ll relics in Kiribati, TAK is working with local partners such as the Ministry of Environment Lands and Agricultural Development (Environment Conservation Division), local communities and private businesses to undertake the clean-up and preservation of all World War ll relics in Kiribati.

The 06th June clean-up was supported by the local Takoronga community who also planted flowers along the road to help beautify the site. The event concluded with refreshments and a community picnic the following weekend.

Tourism Authority of Kiribati Celebrates 1st Anniversary

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The Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) celebrated its 1st year anniversary with a quiet celebration at its head office in Betio, South Tarawa on Wednesday 10 June 2020.

In his welcome address, TAK CEO, Petero Manufolau thanked the Government of Kiribati (GoK) for its vision in recognizing the potential tourism has for the economy and for the opportunity for TAK to lead the development and marketing of tourism in Kiribati.

The event was an opportunity for the organisation to celebrate its achievements in the last 12 months and share its strategies, particularly as current global COVID-19 pandemic continued to impact global travel.

Chief guest and Minister of Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Development, Honourable Willie Tokataake reaffirmed the Government of Kiribati’s (GoK) commitment to provide key supporting economic infrastructures that directly or indirectly support tourism development as reflected in Kiribati’s Vision for the next 20 Years (KV20). He added that the recent development and upgrading of outer island airports and key international ports on Tarawa, Christmas and Kanton underpin government strong desire to promote and develop tourism in the country.

Kiribati recorded a 19% increase in international visitors in 2019 and a 11% increase in the number of beds available in country. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has seen a 60% decline in international visitor arrivals as at May 2020 and the Tourism Authority of Kiribati anticipates a greater decline due to continued travel restrictions.

In its ‘Reset Kiribati’ strategy, TAK will be implementing a series initiatives and activities aimed at addressing the needs of the new traveler post COVID-19. These include destination awareness on what TAK believes will be the ‘new normal’, tourism operator training, product update for international tour operators and niche focused digital marketing campaigns

PIPA TOURISM INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

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The PIPA Tourism Advisory subcommittee (PTASC)met in 21 May to review the Request for Proposal (RFP) for an Integrated Sustainable Tourism Development in Kanton and other potential areas in the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA).

Chaired by PIPA Implementation Office (PIO), PTASC is made up of stakeholder representatives from Tourism, Lands, Culture, and the Commerce Ministry.

Once finalised, the RFP will be an invitation to potential investors to consider sustainable tourism development in PIPA. The RFP is based on Kanton, Orona and Nikumaroro, the island believed to be final resting place of aviator Amelia Earhart.

The next meeting to finalize the draft Request Proposal Document is scheduled to the 2nd week of June 2020.

KIRITIMATI TOURISM AWARENESS PROGRAM

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TAK Kiritimati through support from the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development conducted its Annual Tourism Awareness Program to all primary schools and Junior Secondary school between 29 April to 15 May 2020.

The main purpose of the awareness was to educate students on the importance and benefits of tourism in Kiritimati. The program targeted year 6 and year 9 students in the 3 primary schools and 1 Junior Secondary School.

The school awareness program coincides with the inclusion of tourism in the year 9 curriculum from 2020 and TAK will continue to look at other creative ways to engage students into thinking more seriously about tourism as a contributor to economic development and social well-being.

TAK will undertake more awareness programs during the upcoming Independence Day celebration and World Tourism Day.

ABEMAMA FLY FISHING ASSESSMENT AND AGRITOURISM CONSULTATION

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A team of three (3) officials, assembled by the Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK), conducted their second fly-fishing exploratory assessment in Abemama on the 5th to 15th May 2020. The team’s main task was to undertake a follow-up assessment of the initial exploratory assessment conducted back in 2018. This assessment is to conclude whether Abemama is qualified to be developed as a game-fishing destination or requires more time.

The assessment was conducted within eight days, with only a few tailings of bonefish in the shallows which indicated that bonefish was threatened as a result of heavy fishing and over-exploitation. The team was also able to scout the lagoon areas from the sky with the aid of an aerial drone, but there were no bonefish schools spotted. This issue seems to be unpromising for Abemama, regarding ecotourism development and fly-fishing tourism.

Bonefish on the island is scarce due to heavy netting pressure affecting the fish stock, making it hard to sight the bonefish as compared to the flats on Kiritimati and Fanning in the Line islands. The team recommended future development at Abemama, involving regeneration and protection of the bonefish stock through appropriate bye-laws, during aggregation and spawn seasons, not just for bonefish but for other marine finfish as well. Establishing marine protected areas were also encouraged but these initiatives lie within the various community leaders and the Island Council.

Due to flight issues, the team extended their trip and was able to conduct consultation sessions, with Abemama Green Hotel, Chevalier College, Reina Village, Kiribati Uniting Church at Tabiang, Island Council Piggery Farm, Uarokoan te Kabwaia Incorporate Society from Tebanga Village, and Mwanoku Catholic Seminary, promoting Agritourism. This consultation aimed to improve food-security, and linking agriculture with local accommodation providers in using agriculture into business, landscape, and the beautification of the marine and land environments thus enhancing food security in the context of climate change.

Although the fly fishery assessment was not quite a success, the consultation of the Agritourism program was much more promising for Abemama island.

The trip was supported by the Food Security Project, commonly known as the LDCF-1 which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the UNDP and managed by the Environment and Conservation Division (ECD) under the MELAD

    

TOURISM AND SUSTAINABLE COASTAL FISHERIES

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Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) attended the Commonwealth Blue Charter National Workshop on Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Action Group from on 22 and 23 May 2020 at Teuanete Maneaba in Taborio.

The Blue Charter is an initiative from the Commonwealth on sustainable management and development of the marine resources. It has 10 action groups which will address issues and developments on different areas of the ocean.

Kiribati initiated to champion the 10th action group called Sustainable Coastal Fisheries which will be led by the Coastal Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Fisheries & Marine Resource Development (MFMRD).

Among key stakeholders, TAK delivered a presentation sharing the linkages between tourism and the sustainable coastal fisheries and highlighted how tourism can contribute to achieving sustainable coastal fisheries. TAK also raised the notion of possible areas of collaboration between stakeholders and underlined issues that may hinder the successful development of sustainable coastal fisheries and the development of marine eco-tourism.

TAK looks forward to its continued participation and contribution to Sustainable Coastal Fisheries Action Group. END

NEW INTEGRATED LAND USE PLAN FOR KIRITIMATI

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The Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands hosted a launching ceremony on Friday 1st May 2020, to mark the official completion of the New Integrated Land Use Plan for Kiritimati Island. Minister for the Line & Phoenix Hon. Mikarite Temari officiate this launching ceremony declaring the completion of this very important plan on behalf of the Government.

The Honourable Minister stressed the importance of this plan as a guideline for land use management to control, prevent and legislate such developments to refrain Kiritimati Island from confronting issues that is now currently been experienced by South Tarawa due to overpopulation and unplanned developments.

He added that the implementation of the plan would also help in achieving the Government vision for 20 years (KV20) on tourism developments.

With the plan confirming potential tourism sites, TAK Kiritimati will work with the Lands Division, Wildlife and Conservation Division, Fisheries and MLPID to regulate and manage these sites.

The event was also attended by the Mayor to Kiritimati Urban Council, Church leaders and communities on the island, Parliament representatives from Kiritimati and Teraina Islands and government officials. The program ended with a tour of the ILUP maps displayed on the notice board. END

KIRITIMATI CLEANING AND GARDENING CAMPAIGN

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26th May 2020: The Kiritimati Cleaning and Gardening Campaign is a new program developed by Senior officials of the Ministry of Line & Phoenix Islands Development, Government Agency Office’s (GAOs) and State Own Enterprises (SOEs) on Kiritimati island.

Supported by the Hon. Minister, this initiative encourages employees and the people of Kiritimati to learn and understand the purpose and significance of cleaning and gardening in the society.

The Kiritimati Cleaning and Gardening Campaign is led by 8 offices from different sectors in Kiritimati and SOEs. These include Tourism Authority of Kiribati, Immigration Office, Kiribati Insurance Corporation, Education Office, Kiribati Post Office, Tax Office, Customs Office and ANZ Bank of Kiribati at MLPID building complex block.

The program was established with the objective to help each other to maintain the front and back yard of the building complex block to be clean and green.

TAK Kiritimati also used this opportunity to clean and maintain visitor sites in London.

The program was implemented in early 2020 and is scheduled every Friday.

TOURISM INCLUDED IN 2020 CENSUS

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26th May 2020:  For the first time, the population of Kiribati will be asked for their views on tourism through the national census to be carried out later this year. This was made possible through the support of the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The tourism component of the 2020 Census questionnaire is aimed at obtaining people’s perception on tourism and their understanding on the current and possible benefits of tourism in their respective households and community.

The Research and Statistics division of TAK used the NSO 2020 Census Workshop at Antebuka on 11 May 2020 to update the population census enumerators with the tourism section of the survey and attended to questions raised by the enumerators.

TAK hopes that the census responses will provide greater insight into the communities’ perceptions of tourism. Such information will allow TAK to target awareness, training, and development projects to those communities that require them, particularly where greater understanding of tourism is minimal.

The 2020 National Census will commence on 7th November 2020.

Boat Safety, First Aid, Pastry and Tour Guiding training in Maiana

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Tourism Authority of Kiribati (TAK) in collaboration with the Marine Division and the Kiribati Red Cross Society undertook tourism operator training in Maiana, from 20 – 24th April 2020

The Training was part of the TAK capacity building development program to support the game fishing initiatives, to establish an ecotourism venture on the island.

Maiana island is one of the pilot islands, under the LDCF-I project, aimed to develop a game fishing market for the island.  Ultimately the project aims to help generate income from the coastal zone resources sustainably, and also motivate the locals to practice coastal fisheries conservation.

The specific areas of training included  boat safety, first aid, pastry/baking and tour guiding. This activity should guarantee that: the people of Maiana are well prepared when the whole island is eventually opened up to international markets for fly-fishing games; as communities organize their tour activities and programs.

In addition, the training had also encouraged the community members in Maiana to actively engage in reviving any food conservation methods, as well as valuing their culture, land and marine environments, as means to build resilience under climate change conditions and improve visitor experiences.

The boat safety and first aid training were particularly relevant to the game fishing market as there were focused on equipping participants with any immediate and required services to anglers should they encounter any problem at sea.

68 participants attended the four training sessions which were all run at the same time and 57 % of the attendees were women and 43% were men.

The week concluded with a closing ceremony and the awarding of certificates to all participants and the handing over of the speed boat to the Maiana Island Council from the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development.

Mayor and the Leader of the Elders Association (Te Bau Ni Maiana) on the island, applauded the successful completion of the training. with

The Tourism Authority of Kiribati is responsible for working with our partners to encourage travelers to come to Kiribati and spend time exploring our country.

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